49ers players flirting with Antonio Brown on Twitter as star WR may be headed out of Pittsburgh

1of17FILE - In this Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017 file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown celebrates after he made a touchdown catch during an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans in Pittsburgh. Keith Srakocic/Associated Press2of17

The 49ers best and worst trades include a Hollywood actor, Joe Montana and a guy named Simpson.

Click through the gallery to see them all.

PAUL SAKUMA/Paul Sakuma/AP3of17Some fans still fume when think of the 49ers 1993 trade of Joe Montana to Kansas City. Click through this gallery for some of the 49ers' best worst trades.PAUL SAKUMA/Paul Sakuma/AP4of17The 49ers traded for the right to draft Kentwan Balmer, pictured here with Mike Nolan (left) and Scott McCloughan (right) (Lea Suzuki, The Chronicle).5of17Steve Young and former coach George Seifert before Young launched a Hall of Fame career (The Chronicle).6of17The 49ers traded a bunch of picks for a washed-up O.J. Simpson in the late 1970's (Kirby Lee, Getty Images).7of17Bill Walsh traded three draft picks for Jerry Rice in 1985 (AP).8of17Gordy Soltau is in the 49ers Hall of Fame (49ers).9of17Tom Ratham, here body bumping Frank Gore, was part of a brilliant 1986 draft (Paul Chinn, The Chronicle).10of17Carlos Hyde ended up being a part of the Alex Smith deal (Hannah Foslien, Getty Images).11of17The 49ers snatched NaVorro Bowman (Scott Strazzante, The Chronicle)12of17The 49ers got Anquan Boldin for a mere sixth-round pick (Jeffrey T. Barnes, AP)13of17Y.A. Tittle was part of one the worst trades in 49ers' history (New York Giants)14of17Oakland Raiders' quarterback Jim Plunkett (16) waited to get the Raiders to blossom. (AP Photo)ASSOCIATED PRESS15of17Steve Spurrier was known more for his coaching than his quarterbacking (Sports Illustrated)16of17Hall of Famer Charles Haley won two Super Bowls with the Cowboys after the 49ers traded him to Dallas (Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle)17of17Corey Lemonier had a pair of the best guns in franchise history, but very few sacks ( (Christian Petersen Getty Images)

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown has sent strong signals he isn't happy in Pittsburgh, although many have doubted whether the Steelers would actually cut or trade the All-Pro receiver due to the $21.2 million cap hit he carries for 2019.

That seemed to change on Thursday when Steelers owner Art Rooney II told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette it is "hard to envision" Brown back with the team in 2019.

"There's not much we can do right now; we have time to make a decision," Rooney said. "We'll look at all the options. We're not going to release him, that's not on the table. But I will say all other options are on the table."

In other words, the Steelers are definitely open to trading Brown later in the offseason.

"Whether the situation can be reconciled and have him back on the team next year, we're a long way away from thinking that can happen," he said. "We're not closing the door on anything at this point."

According to Rooney, the Steelers are prepared to eat the $21.2 million cap hit if need be.

"That has to be taken into consideration, but, as I sit here today, I'm not going to say that's going to box us into anything," Rooney said of the dead money. "If we decide something has to be done, we'll figure out how to deal with that."

Brown is due a $2.5 million roster bonus on March 17, and Rooney said the Steelers have until then to figure out what to do.